Mouth
Guards in Swansea, IL

Safe Smiles for Active People

Mouthguards protect your smile while you engage in sports and other physical activities. Also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, they allow kids, teens, and adults to stay safe while enjoying an active lifestyle.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advocates wearing dental mouthguards during sporting or recreational activities. Anyone who participates in sports or other activities that could result in injury to the face can benefit from a dental mouthguard. At Corner Stone Dental, we’ll provide you with a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect your smile.

Mouthguards can also be used to protect against bruxism, which is the clenching or grinding of teeth, especially at night.

The Protection You Get From Mouthguards

In addition to protecting your teeth from becoming loose, broken, or knocked out, mouthguards can also help prevent:

  • Cheek lesions
  • Concussions
  • Gum and soft tissue injuries
  • Jawbone fractures
  • Lip lesions
  • Neck injuries
  • Tongue lesions
  • Tooth fractures
  • Traumatic brain injury

Types of Mouthguards

There are several types of mouthguards and the one you choose depends on your budget and the kind of activity it’s needed for.

Most mouthguards fall into one of three main categories:

Stock Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards can be bought directly off the shelf and they’re made in a one-size-fits-all fashion. The mouthguard is readily available but it can’t be adjusted, meaning it doesn’t offer as much protection as other options. It can also obstruct proper breathing and speaking, and stock mouthguards usually aren’t very comfortable.

Boil and Bite Mouthguards

These mouthguards are made from thermoplastic and they can be found at sporting goods stores. The thermoplastic must first be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, then pressed onto the teeth to create a custom mold.

Boil and bite mouthguards are more expensive than stock mouthguards, but they offer greater protection and comfort.

Customized Mouthguards

A custom mouthguard is a kind professional athletes use. It’s provided by a dentist who will take an impression of your teeth to get a perfect fit. Custom mouthguards offer the greatest amount of protection and the highest level of comfort available.

Caring for a Mouthguard

Once you have a mouthguard, knowing how to keep it clean can make it last longer, so you get more protection. There are four main steps to caring for your mouthguard:

  1. Brushing — Brush your mouthguard with a toothbrush and toothpaste before and after every use to eliminate bacteria.
  2. Rinsing — Mouthguards need to be rinsed off periodically with soap and lukewarm water to prevent debris from getting stuck in them.
  3. Storage —When you’re not using your mouthguard, keep it in a firm case to protect it from being crushed or broken.
  4. Replacement — Eventually, your mouthguard will need to be replaced. It’s important to carefully monitor the condition of your mouthguard so it can provide the fullest level of protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Corner Stone Dental

4121 Old Collinsville Rd.
Swansea, IL 62226

Office Hours

Monday
8am – 5pm
Tuesday
8am – 5pm
Wednesday
8:30am – 5:30pm
Thursday
8am – 5pm
Friday
By appointment
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